“Strut” is a term you have probably heard thrown around in conversations about vehicles. What is it, why do you care and what does it do? A-D Tire & Chassis in Terrell, TX has been fixing struts on vehicles for many years and knows why the Strut is important to your driving safety and comfort.

The strut is a component of your suspension system, the system that connects your car to the wheels. While this system has many components, the strut is one of the most important, since it supports the weight of the vehicle, is necessary for steering, and does most of the work of shock absorption. The strut is the name of the assembly which connects your vehicle to the wheel assemblies, and consists of mounts, a spring, and a shock absorber which runs through the spring. Not all cars have struts, or only have them on one set of wheels; on some designs, the shock absorber and the spring are separate, though the same basic principles of suspension still apply.

The assembly as a whole supports the car and typically is involved with steering. The spring maintains the ride height, and absorbs bumps and holes in the road. The shock absorber reduces vibration, and prevents the car from bouncing around by essentially fighting the spring, reducing the vehicle’s tendency to bob up and down like a boat.

Your strut assemblies are under constant stress, even when the vehicle is just sitting. For this reason, rubber bushings that the strut pivots on have a tendency to wear out, causing squeaking sounds while turning or driving. If you notice your struts are noisy or your car doesn’t ride as smoothly as it should, have them replaced. Even if you haven’t noticed a reduction in ride quality, it’s a good idea to have them inspected regularly. They often fail slowly over time, and many people don’t realize their struts are bad until they can compare the ride quality after they’ve been replaced. Whether your car, truck, or SUV has a bad shock, worn bushings and bearings, or broken and worn out suspension components, our mechanics will get you taken care of. For your strut and suspension needs, visit A-D Tire & Chassis in Terrell and have one of our technicians take a look.